By Ashley McLeod, Staff Writer
Feb. 2, 2015, 09:04
HOPEWELL — A resident is suing the City of Hopewell over the City Council’s closed session held before the vote to appoint the mayor and vice mayor.
On Jan. 6, the City Council held a closed session before the open meeting to discuss the decision of who would be the next mayor and vice mayor for the city. Immediately following the closed session, the council voted, electing Brenda Pelham as mayor and Christina Luman-Bailey as vice mayor.
City resident Janice Denton believes that the closed session allowed for the council to vote and decide the results before the official vote during the meeting that followed the closed session. Denton questions whether the closed session was legal.
City Attorney David Fratarcangelo stated that the closed session before the vote was very controversial, but in no way was it illegal. However, Fratarcangelo will not be representing the city in the case, according to court documents. He announced his resignation in November and his last day was Feb. 1.
Two councilors, Wayne Walton and Jackie Shornak, chose to not participate in the closed session, stating that the closed meeting to discuss the appointments seemed unethical.
“I feel it is in the best interest of the City of Hopewell and it’s citizens for me not to participate in such meeting which could result in civil litigation to the City and mistrust from the citizens,” said Shornak in a statement against the closed session.
Councilors Pelham and Tony Zevgolis stated the closed session would allow the council to discuss the appointments with no worry of public embarrassment during disagreements, allowing the council to look united with a unanimous vote when the actual vote occurred. But there was no unanimous vote.
Denton believes that the vote and discussion of the appointments of the mayor and vice mayor should have been made in the open meeting, and not in a closed session. As elected officials, the council represents the public, and the public should be able to hear why someone should or should not be elected to lead the city.
The hearing for this case will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 9 a.m. at the Hopewell General District Court.
• Senior staff writer Caitlin Davis contributed to this story.
